Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao are now gearing up the finihing touches for their highly anticipated matchup at December 6 (December 7, Manila time) at MGM Grand Las Vegas.

As far as I am concerned, regardless of my nationality, this is a very good match to bring back the glory days of boxing. Boxing have been overshadowed by many combat sports recently with the amazing success of mixed martial arts, most notably the UFC. More and more boxing matches are decided by merely points, most of the time in controversial fashion, with both men slugging it out as if they were amateurs. Power, speed and stamina lost it’s importance as the key stats of boxing, with the more handsome, salable and popular fighter being raised as the victor for money making purposes even in a questionable outcome.

Most of the boxing analysts and even experts thought that this fight card was just a dream, some even laughed about it as an April Fool’s Day joke. Oscar De La Hoya is a legendary title holder of six divisions and naturally bigger than Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao from birth was naturally thin, and even cheated his weight on the scales just to be allowed to fight in his early days. He was even underage when he started boxing. To sum up, Pacquiao is really up to the challenge whatever it takes and so far, continues to succeed in every obstacle he wishes to overcome.

De La Hoya is past his prime but his recent fights will show that he’s still fighting fit and ready to win more glorious battles such as the upcoming fight. He made the former WBC light middleweight champion Ricardo Mayorga a walking punching bag bringing him thrice on the canvas, once on the opening round and twice on the sixth which resulted to a halt and a record setting win from a new champion. The former pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. stole that crown from De La Hoya in 12 rounds, the fight were Freddie Roach called the shots on his corner which will perform a vital role on Pacquiao’s preparation come December 6. The Golden Boy subdued Steve Forbes at the scorecards in his most recent outing at 150 lbs, showing grace under pressure on much faster Forbes. I have seen this fight live (or probably a bit delayed) on TV and from that time, I knew that Oscar might face Manny someday knowing the barrage of punches with a good hand speed of smaller Forbes is controllable. Oscar did the right thing to earn a lot of money fighting Pacquiao and a rare attemtpt in putting his name above everyone else if ever he succeeds. However, he is facing the most lethal and a complete package this time around. Yes, Pacquiao is physically in trouble but there are lots more to dig up.

UAAP teams National University and Adamson University put away their NCAA counterparts on opening day of the ABS-CBN-backed College Wars at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Gym last June 15.

Behind the exploits of Kokoy Hermosisima, the Bulldogs came away with an 86-81 win over the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in the first game. A close first half turned into somewhat of a struggle for the Altas in the next 20 minutes as the firepower of Hermosisima, Mervin Baloran and big man Jewel Ponferrada gave the Sampaloc unit a 10-point edge late in the third quarter. However, swingman John Galabin responded for coach Boris Aldeguer’s squad, nailing crucial baskets to trim the Bulldog lead to two, 74-72 with 7:22 in the game.

The Altas, who lost key man Raffy Ynion to fouls, failed to sustain their rally, allowing NU to hold on and help the UAAP draw first blood. Hermosisima led the Bulldogs with 21 points, while Galabin had 22 to pace Perpetual Help.

In the second game, Adamson University fended off a late blitz to hold off San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 69-66. The Falcons, despite building an 11-point lead entering the second quarter, were held to just five points in the next 10 minutes of action. The Stags, in return, launched an 11-0 run to seize the momentum entering the half.

In the third period, the wards of coach Leo Austria regrouped and regained the lead courtesy of a basket by Jerick Cañada at the 1:40 mark of the quarter. The Stags regained the lead at the 4:07 mark of the fourth period but Adamson came away with the win thanks to crucial baskets by Cebuano forward Jan Colina, who led all scorers with 20 points. Swingman Jimbo Aquino led the Stags with 17 points.

On Wednesday, June 16, the College Wars take centerstage at the Jose Rizal University Gym along Shaw Boulevard. At 2 p.m., Mapua Institute of Technology takes on University of the Philippines, while the hosts Heavy Bombers do battle against reigning UAAP champions Ateneo de Manila University at 4 p.m. All games are broadcast live on Studio 23.

Mr. Henson was one of the speakers on the first day of the seminar and he was really early. We had a chance to talk with him before we ate our breakfast.

One of the interesting points that he caught me (and I guess everyone else) was his personal meaning of SPORTS. He confessed the passion for sports runs through his veins and was just a frustrated athlete that’s why he ended up being a sportswriter. We have similar cause and effect on why I’m on the student publication even though I was trained to become a professional basketball player as early as three years old. As the saying goes, “you can’t teach height”.

I was happy that he gave a very interesting lecture not primarily focused on sports writing, but on how to improve our journalistic sense as student writers. Surprisingly, even the non-sports aficionados were tuned in in his two hours continuous talk and even without a prepared powerpoint presentation. Ironically, a sports writer like him was voted as one of the highest ranked in the evaluation.

I remembered on my childhood days way back on 1997, I wanted to be a sportswriter. From the tender age of 10, I am clearly aware on how the basketball stats are computed. I already memorized the rosters of the current NBA team (with the help of NBA Live 1997 on my SEGA, it was Mitch Richmond on the cover donning a #2 Sacramento Kings jersey). I collected a local sports magazine Scoreboard from the time when Andy Seigle was drafted by Mobiline as it’s first pick while Nic Belasco was picked second for Sunkist at the PBA. I really don’t know how my aspirations went into the drain so quickly after high school, and the start of the grueling stages of college.

Our student publication gladly handed Mr. Henson a few copies of our recent issues after the talk, including our special UAAP issue.

*****

I have difficulty sleeping tonight, thanks to the Starbucks’ Mocha Frap grande i took at 10 PM.

Adamson Falcons team manager Romeo “Don” Lerit Jr. demanded apology from University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) deputy commissioner Gregorio “Ogie” Narvasa III for unsportsmanlike conduct and “unbecoming of an official and a lawyer” that happened last August 31, right after the De La Salle Green Archers vs. Adamson Falcons game at PhilSports Arena, Pasig City.

On a letter addressed to UAAP president Dr. Sergio S. Cao, Lerit formally filed a complaint before the UAAP board against Narvasa’s “display of arrogance and high-handed attitude towards a team official and a respected member of a UAAP family”.

According to Lerit, Narvasa vehemently approached him after the game after seeing him clapping and saying, “Good job, ref!” to the referees. Deputy Commissioner Narvasa angrily shouted to Lerit, asking “Sino ka ba? Anong pangalan mo?”. Lerit replied with “I am Don Lerit, team manager of the Adamson Falcons”, which may have erupted Narvasa to grab and pull the ID around the complainant’s neck while screaming, “Loko-loko ka ha!”, then slamming it on his chest. Lerit stressed in his statement that Narvasa “started pointing finger in my face (dinuduro niya ako na halos masundot ang mukha ko)”. Upon seeing the commotion, Adamson University’s Discipline Section Head of Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Mr. Bernie Rances stepped in and said “Ano po ang ginawa ng manager namin?”. Narvasa violently unrestrained himself and asnwered back at the top of his voice, “Howag mo akong hawakan! Sino ka ba? Hindi mo ba ako kilala?”, diverting his anger while pointing his finger to Mr. Rances.

Lerit requested the UAAP board to order an investigation and perform necessary disciplinary actions to Narvasa, whose brother is the current UAAP commissioner Chito Narvasa.

“Well, kung ganon hindi ko alam kung saan tayo aabot, whether I’ll be filing charges against him both civil and criminal. Tignan natin kung anong mangyayari. I have my lawyer with me and I’ve instructed several legal matters with him”, added Lerit upon knowing that Narvasa is insisting that he doesn’t need to apologize and just doing his job.

A press conference was held last Pantalan Maynila Restaurant last September 3 to inform the media about what truly happened on the said incident. Lerit and Rances were joined by Adamson’s Vice President of Student Affairs Fr. Francisco “Kiko” Magnaye Jr., C.M., Adamson Falcons men’s basketball team led by head coach Leovino “Leo” Austria and Lerit’s lawyer Atty. Anselmo Adriano.

“As far as I am concerned, they should be the one na magpapaganda ng liga. If there’s a commotion or untoward incident is happening on the game, they should be the one to pacify or intervene para ma-issue yung smoothness ng system dito sa liga”, said coach Austria who is present with all of the Adamson Falcons team members on the press conference.

Adamson Falcons had a miserable UAAP season 71 and is currently suffering a nine game losing streak. The 6-6 record of UAAP season 69’s Adamson Final Four team which coach Austria handled was a far cry from the current 2-11 win-loss card. Officiating woes, player inconsistencies and internal problems plagued the San Marcelino- based squad, highlighting a record breaking loss with the biggest scoring margin in UAAP history with 31 points against last year’s lone winless team UP Maroons.

“Well, I think very consistent sila, sa inconsistencies,” laughingly bared coach Austria with the media about the bad officiating by the referees which happened all season long including Adamson’s most recent setback against DLSU. “Hindi niyo naman na maririnig sa amin na nagccomplain kami regarding that dahil binibigyan naming sila ng benefit of the doubt. After all they are humans na nagkakamali, kaya lang kung piloto sila at human error lagi, it will cost their life. At gusto ko lang malaman bakit yung turnover ngayon tomorrow is not a turnover. Yung violation today, the next day is not. And they are very consistent with that inconsistencies”, added Austria.

Lerit admittedly was “emotionally frustrated after the game for several non-calls that the referees did (or did not do) which could have changed the outcome of the game”. Last game, Adamson’s Marc Agustin was called for a traveling on a crucial scoring attempt, which was later reviewed and obviously should have been a non-call. Five seconds remaining on the overtime period with both teams tied, DLSU’s LA Revilla went inside the playing court without reporting to the table officials but got away without a technical foul, which could have wrapped up the game for the Falcons.

“During 5.7 seconds, last possession ng La Salle pumasok si LA Revilla without informing the table officials. It took so long for them to inform the table officials and the referees are the one who is facilitating it. Nasa loob na sila. The play is about to start then when that particular player reported to the table officials. With 5.7 seconds and tied ang score, so it could change the outcome of the game. Pero wala kang maririnig sa amin because it’s the referees decision but before that play, I complained to the table officials. How come inano niyo ito without any technical (foul). But ignoring my appeal, the referees just continued the play. Hindi man lang ako binigyan ng chance na kausapin. I cannot stop the game because I’m just a coach so I will just follow on what they want to do. Kaya naging frustrated yung team namin, that’s why he was prompted na pumalakpak. It’s normal naman to any concerned parties na ipakita mo yung emotion mo sometimes. I don’t think na kung sarcastic man it depends on the manner, and there’s no abusive or profane language na ginawa yung manager namin,” explained Austria. “As long there’s no physical assault, I think, maganda yun para sa atin pero everybody has a passion for basketball. And everybody is trying to go at Araneta during La Salle-Ateneo games because basketball is passion of the Filipinos. Kaya dapat pagandahin natin ito”, added Austria.

Lerit also claimed that this is Narvasa’s first time to display his violence on the playing court.

“A couple of days back, as I was surfing on the internet, this is not something new na ginawa ni Mr. Narvasa. There is an incident before involving Mr. Narvasa sa NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) naman.”, said Lerit. “Allegedly hinamon ni Narvasa ng suntukan ang isang matandang fan na nanonood during Letran vs. San Sebastian na nangangantyaw rin,” stressed Lerit exerting his claim on personal issues with Narvasa.

Devastator’s Profile

Joshua is a computer engineer by profession and a sports writer by heart. He was a former sports editor of The Adamson Chronicle, a student correspondent of UAAPSports.com and a pro bono contributor in various newspapers and magazines.